On Wednesday, May 17 the seventh hearing of the Inquiry into the Augmentation of Water Supply for Regional and Rural New South Wales took place in Orange.
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The purpose of the Inquiry is to “examine water demand and supply, the suitability of existing water storage, flood history and technologies to mitigate flood damage, and water management strategies, including that for environmental water.”
Groups represented were the Central New South Wales Councils, (CENTROC), Daroo Urban Landcare, Orange Speleological Society, Orange Water Security Alliance, the Save Cliefden Caves Association, the New South Wales Irrigation Council and the Belubula Landholders Association.
An important water augmentation issue for discussion was that of the proposal to build a dam on the Belubula River.
Those representing the irrigators, councils and local landholders were strongly in support of the construction of a dam, pointing out its anticipated economic and social benefits. The environmental groups opposed the construction of a dam, presented arguments which included environmental degradation of the river system and the potential inundation of the internationally recognised Cliefden Caves.
There are 135 major dams in NSW, many of which were built after World War II, when large-scale engineering works were seen as a means of developing infrastructure to provide energy and water security.
Unfortunately, building dams was a 20th century engineering solution which showed little or no consideration for the environment.
Each river is a unique environment, supporting a range of plants and animals that have evolved depend on its natural cycles. Dams impede these processes.
The impact of dams is the disruption of natural processes. As the result of damming, many of our river systems have been degraded to the status of conduits only suitable for the delivery of irrigation water, becoming eroded and home to feral plants and wildlife.
In the 21st century we are more aware of how important it is to work with nature, rather than seeking to conquer it, as was the prevailing attitude when we were a developing country in the 1950s. It is therefore fortunate that alternatives to a dam on the Belubula are being considered.